Oncidium orchid plant named &#39;ONCDBALCOJ&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Oncidium  plant named ‘ONCDBALCOJ’, particularly characterized by having yellow flowers with a light brown spot in the area of the callus and striations on the sepals and petals, 1-3 peduncles, a peduncle that is short and moderate, leaves that are lanceolate and moderately elongated, and is propagated by tissue culture is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Oncidium altissimum Sw.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘ONCDBALCOJ’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Oncidiumplant, botanically known as Oncidium altissimum Sw. of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘ONCDBALCOJ’.

Oncidium comprises a genus of about 330 species of herbaceous perennialsmany of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation atthe home or greenhouse. Oncidium thrives growing as lithophytes orterrestrials and is distributed throughout the American tropics andextending into South-Central America. All Oncidium exhibit a sympodialgrowth habit. The species typically have 4 leaves per mature,pseudobulb: 2 lanceolate leaves with acute apex grown on the apex of thepseudobulb and 2 leaves grown from the axis at the base (sympodialgrowth). The peduncles vary in size from 20 to over 60 cm.

Oncidium orchids in the horticultural trade are frequently used tofurnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering pottedplants for home or interiorscape.

Oncidium produces upright or pendent lateral racemes to panicles, oftenwith many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and two petals; the lateralones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, arethree-lobed and are often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow,and red-brown.

Oncidium orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Oncidium is often done from off-shoots which arise fromthe lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detachedfrom the mother plants and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Oncidium ‘ONCDBALCOJ’ is particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique, yellow flowers with a light brown spot in thearea of the callus and striations on the sepals and petals, a short andcompact plant habit, economical propagation by tissue culture, rapidgrowth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to themarket.

‘ONCDBALCOJ’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by theinventor Gert-Jan.Hoogendoorn, in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Oncidium ‘ONCDBALCOJ’ originated from a cross made by theinventor in August 2008 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parentis a yellow Oncidium pot plant named ‘60000-0041’ (unpatented) and themale parent is a yellow Oncidium pot plant named ‘60000-0522’(unpatented). A single plant was selected in August 2011 and has beenasexually reproduced repeatedly by meristem tissue culture in Bleiswijk,The Netherlands over a 2.5 year period. The new variety has been foundto retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexualpropagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘ONCDBALCOJ’ by tissue culture was firstperformed in September 2012 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Oct. 27, 2014. ‘ONCDBALCOJ’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

-   1) Yellow flowers with light brown spot in area of callus and    striations on the sepals and petals;-   2) 1-3 peduncles;-   3) Peduncle is short and moderate;-   4) The shape of the leaf is lanceolate and moderately elongated; and-   5) Plants are propagated by meristem tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Oncidium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the overall plant habit including blooms and foliage of theplant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 40-weekold plant grown in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands inDecember 2014.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of‘ONCDBALCOJ’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘ONCDBALCOJ’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘ONCDBALCOJ’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘ONCDBALCOJ’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 40-week oldplants which were planted from tissue culture in 9 centimeter pots andgrown in a greenhouse between 20° C. to 25° C. for 40 weeks.Observations were made in December 2014. Color readings were taken under4-6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse. Color references areprimarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Societyof London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Oncidium altissimum Sw.        -   Common name.—Oncidium.        -   Variety name.—‘ONCDBALCOJ’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Oncidium cultivar ‘60000-0041’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Oncidium cultivar ‘60000-0522’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.-   Plant:    -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—20            to 40 weeks for a 9 cm pot        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to            panicle.        -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—25.0 cm to            35.0 cm        -   Vigor.—Moderate.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—White colored roots with white,            transparent growing tips (The exact shades of white may vary            with minimal changes of environmental conditions).-   Pseudobulb:    -   -   Shape.—Laterally compressed ovoid.        -   Height.—3.7 cm to 4.2 cm.        -   Length.—2.8 cm to 3.3 cm.        -   Width.—2.0 cm to 2.3 cm.        -   Color.—Green (RHS 146A).-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 2 to 4 leaves are            produced before flowering Length (fully expanded): 8.5 cm to            9.5 cm Width: 1.7 cm to 2.3 cm Shape: Lanceolate Base shape:            Moderately elongated Apex: Acute Leaf margin: Entire Color:            Upper surface: RHS 146A Lower surface: RHS 146B Texture:            Slightly rough Thickness: 0.70 mm to 0.80 mm Venation:            Pattern: Parallel Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS            146A Lower surface: RHS 146B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 3.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—15 to 45 (number of flowers            depends on the branching of the inflorescence).        -   Length.—18.0 cm to 23.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.0 mm to 3.0 mm.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Green (RHS 146B).        -   Internode length.—12.0 mm to 22.0 mm.        -   Number of branches.—0 to 4.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright, raceme to panicle inflorescence with            bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open in succession            beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 100.0 mm to            130.0 mm Diameter: 1.4 mm to 1.9 mm.        -   Flowering time.—All year; first flowers can be expected 5 to            9 months after planting in a 9 cm pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 19.0 mm to 24.0 mm Diameter: 11.0 mm to 16.0            mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 5 to 10 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Present (Slight fragrance).        -   Petals.—Shape: Ovate Length (from base to tip): 6.0 mm to            9.0 mm Width: 2.0 mm to 5.0 mm Color (when fully opened):            Main color: Yellow (RHS 6C), striped greyed-orange (RHS            172A) At the base: Yellow (RHS 6C).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic Length (from base to tip): 5.0            mm to 8.0 mm Width: 2.0 mm to 5.0 mm Color (when fully            opened): Main color: Yellow (RHS 6C), striped greyed-orange            (RHS 172A) At the base: Yellow (RHS 6C).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate Length (from base to tip): 6.0            mm to 9.0 mm Width: 2.0 mm to 5.0 mm Color (when fully            opened): Main color: Yellow (RHS 6C), striped greyed-orange            (RHS 172A) At the base: Yellow (RHS 6C).        -   Labellum (lip).—Length: 8.0 mm to 13.0 mm Width: 14.0 mm to            19.0 mm Color: Yellow (RHS 7C), greyed-orange towards the            callus (RHS 167A).        -   Callus.—Color: Greyed-orange (RHS 167A).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present.        -   Column.—Length: 3.0 mm to 4 0 mm Diameter: 2.0 mm Color:            Green/yellow (RHS 143C, 6C).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2 Diameter: 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm Color:            Yellow-orange (RHS 22A).        -   Ovary.—Length: Not visible.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm Diameter: 0.9 mm to 1.1            mm.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed-   Temperature tolerance: Not observed

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘ONCDBALCOJ’ differs from female parent ‘60000-0041’ (unpatented) inthat ‘ONCDBALCOJ’ has an acute leaf apex, whereas ‘60000-0041’ has anunequal obtuse leaf apex. Additionally, ‘ONCDBALCOJ’ has a shorter plantwith smaller flowers than ‘60000-0041’.

‘ONCDBALCOJ’ differs from male parent ‘60000-0522’ (unpatented) in that‘ONCDBALCOJ’ has an acute leaf apex and a smaller callus that is lightbrown, whereas ‘60000-0522’ has an unequal obtuse leaf apex and a largercallus that is darker brown. Additionally, ‘ONCDBALCOJ’ has a largerflower than ‘60000-0165’.

‘ONCDBALCOJ’ differs from commercial variety ‘SWEET SUGAR’ (unpatented)in that ‘ONCDBALCOJ’ has a smaller lip, a smaller pseudobulb and smallerpollinia than ‘SWEET SUGAR’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Oncidium plant named‘ONCDBALCOJ’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.